Davina Whitehouse

Davina Whitehouse (born Eileen Eliza Smith; 16 December 1912 – 25 December 2002), also known by the stage name Davina Craig before her marriage, was an English-born actress, acclaimed for her roles on stage and film in her native land in the 1930s and early 1940s and in New Zealand from the 1950s where she continued her career as an actress. She was also a radio and stage producer and director, and from the early 1970s she worked in Australia primarily in television serials.

Early life and family Born Eileen Eliza Smith in London on 16 December 1912, Whitehouse was the daughter of Scottish-born David Smith and Florence Smith (née King). Her father died when she was two years old, and she was renamed Davina in his memory. Her mother remarried an ex-soldier 10 years later.

In 1941 she married John Henry Archibald Whitehouse, and in 1952 they and their children emigrated to New Zealand. Using the stage name Davina Craig, her acting roles were initially rare, but in 1932 she was seen by Ivor Novello and he offered her a role in a touring play, I Lived with You, which later was made into the 1933 film of the same name, for which Whitehouse receive critical praise. She was then signed by Twickenham Film Studios, and between 1933 and 1939, Whitehouse appeared in over 40 films, most commonly playing a comic servant, but she also had some larger roles, including in The Private Secretary in 1935.

Whitehouse's television career began in 1972, appearing in the TV play An Awful Silence. In 1977 became co-host of the TV chat show Two on One with Ray Woolf.

On Australian television, Whitehouse appeared in numerous of the Crawford Productions series, including Matlock Police and The Box, as well as playing the role of Maggie May Kennedy in the Grundy production, Prisoner.

Beginning in 1978, Whitehouse served a four-year term on the board of the New Zealand Film Commission.

In the 1985 Queen's Birthday Honours, Whitehouse was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the performing arts, and in 1987 she was the subject of an episode of the New Zealand version of This is Your Life. Whitehouse received a best actress nomination for Face Value at the 1997 New Zealand film and television awards, and she received the Rudall Hayward Award for lifetime achievement in films at the 1998 New Zealand film and television awards.

Later life and death Whitehouse wrote her autobiography, Davina – An Acting Life, published in 1999. She died on 25 December 2002 in Auckland, following a series of strokes. She was predeceased by her husband, Archie Whitehouse, and survived by their two children, one of whom (Steve) had an illustrious 30 year career working in the UN's radio and television units, where he documented global peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts. He died aged 73.

Filmography Production Year Dark Knight TV series, 1 episode (2001) A Twist in the Tale TV series, 1 episode (1999) The Legend of William Tell TV series, 1 episode (1998) Rugged Gold TV movie (1994) Forgotten Silver (1995) Braindead (1992) Gloss (TV series, 1987-1990) Prisoner (TV series, also called Prisoner: Cell Block H) 6 episodes (1983) The Night Nurse TV movie (1978) Solo (1977) Young Ramsay (TV series) 1 episode (1977) Bluey (TV series) 1 episode (1977) Sleeping Dogs (1977) Division 4 (TV series) 1 episode (1975) Matlock Police (TV series), 1 episode, 1975) The Box (1974) (TV series) (unknown number of episodes) I'll Turn to You (1946) Tower of Terror 1941 film My Wife's Family 1941 film The Farmer's Wife 1941 film Hoots Mon! 1940 film Traitor Spy 1939 Anything to Declare? 1938 South Riding 1938 film London Melody 1937 Sunset in Vienna 1937 Love Up the Pole 1936 Dusty Ermine 1936 Where There's a Will 1936 film Crown v. Stevens 1936 The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 1936 The Private Secretary- Widow's Might 1935 Annie, Leave the Room! 1935 Tangled Evidence 1934 The Black Abbot 1934 Are You a Mason? 1934 The Ghost Camera 1933 I Lived with You 1933